Yousuf demands the reason behind his ouster

Former Pakistan captain, Muhammad Yousuf, is keen to get a hearing from the new chairman of the Cricket Board, as he believes the national selection committee has treated him unjustly.

"Yes definitely, I would like to meet with the new chairman and request him to ask the selectors on what criteria or basis they dropped me from the national team," Yousuf said.

Yousuf has been sidelined by the selectors since the series against South Africa last year in the UAE.

The veteran of 90 Test matches reiterated that he was available to play for the national team in any format of the game.

"But first I want to know the reasons for which the selectors dropped me and then didn't consider me all these months for selection despite my record," Yousuf said.

"I will also ask the new chairman to speak to the selectors, who sidelined me without giving any explanation as to what were the reasons for not selecting me," he added.

The senior player said the selectors continued to ignore him even after he played with lot of spirit in domestic cricket.

Cricket analysts believe that with the induction of Zaka Ashraf as the new chairman of the board, the senior players, who were sidelined during the tenure of former chairman Ejaz Butt, are now optimistic that the change will see them back in contention.

"That explains why Yousuf after waiting and keeping quiet for so long is now finally demanding that he be told the reasons for sidelining him," one of the analysts said.

"The senior players believe that the new chairman is more player-friendly than Butt.

"Yousuf had to return home from the series against South Africa due to an injury. He was named in Pakistan's World Cup probables list by the selectors but they didn't select him and now has been sidelined for nearly a year, even though, he made appearances in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy," he insisted.

"I don't think I was treated fairly by the selectors and board. No one spoke to me and they just sidelined me which is not the way to treat senior players," Yousuf said.

Yousuf last year announced his retirement from international cricket after the Australian tour.

The decision came after the board found the batsman guilty of indiscipline and fined him.

The Lahore City Cricket Association named Yousuf as captain of the Lahore team for the national Twenty20 championship, held recently in Karachi, but the senior batsman backed out saying he was not interested in playing domestic cricket.

"What is the use of playing domestic cricket when my performances are not being considered by the selectors," Yousuf said.

"I have served this country for many years and I still believe I can serve the country for another few years but first I want some explanation from the selectors," the 37-year-old added.

Chief selector, Mohsin Khan has in the past indicated that Yousuf despite being a world-class player was not considered for selection since he had fitness issues and was slow on the field.

"Those days are gone when one could hide a poor fielder," Mohsin said.